2013 Green Business Awards winner: Eagle Realty Group

When Eagle Realty Group envisioned the Great American Tower at Queen City Square as a LEED-certified project, the goal was to deliver a best-in-class building.

“I’m not sure we had specific economic benefits in mind,” said Tom Stapleton, senior vice president.

Yet the outcomes for the 41-story, $322 million tower are astounding, said Rob Alpern, vice president.

Take the hard evidence in utility usage and costs compared with non-LEED buildings. Energy usage is 30 percent less, thanks to an energy-efficient facade and curtain wall system that captures waste from the HVAC system and uses it to heat and cool the building.

High-efficiency faucets and urinals and high/low flush toilets deliver a 40 percent reduction in water usage.

Eagle Realty’s green approach is influencing tenants that occupy the 805,000 square feet of rentable space. Some followed Eagle’s lead, building out their own spaces to interior LEED standards.

“All tenants view the green aspects as a benefit, combined with others,” Stapleton said. “And all are incorporating some level of green.”

Great American Tower is even having an impact on the health of those who work on its floors. The building promotes alternative forms of transportation by offering specific parking for bicycles in the garage, combined with a locker and shower facility.

“That is doing double duty as a spot for midday runners to get cleaned up before going back to work,” Stapleton said.

The facility is in addition to the workout center located within the tower.

Eagle Realty is a member of Western & Southern Financial Group. The skyscraper was designed by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum. Gyo Obata was principal designer. Turner Construction was the construction manager.

Great American Tower earned LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council under the LEED Core and Shell program.

Stapleton and Alpern said they were surprised how smoothly work on the structure progressed,

Cincinnati’s tallest and newest Class A office tower is now 90 percent leased.

“It gets back to the building being considered to be the highest quality in downtown’s center, getting the highest rents and filling up quickly,” Stapleton said. “LEED is great if the amenities and features are designed to accomplish those goals. Coupled with the other features of the building, we think LEED has benefited the project.”